European Council

Patricia Gibson Excerpts
Monday 24th June 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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Let us just say that I thought that I would have more time available than is proving to be the case because of the extra Council meetings that I am having to attend.

Patricia Gibson Portrait Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)
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When article 50 was extended by the EU until 31 October, President Donald Tusk urged the UK not to waste this time. Did the Prime Minister or anybody on the EU Council offer any view on whether this advice was being heeded? Can she tell us what obstacles she faced as she tried to secure a Brexit that her successor will not?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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First, as I have indicated in response to a number of questions, Brexit was not the subject of the meeting of the EU Council at 28. We discussed various other issues that are of importance for the future not only of individual member states and of Europe, but, in terms of climate change, of the whole world. As I have always said, the issue remains the same. It is still in the best interests of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union with a deal. A deal has been negotiated, but that has been rejected by this House.